A New York hospital has admitted it was wrong when it disciplined eight nurses for refusing to participate in an abortion.

Nassau University Medical Center on Long Island apologized to the nurses and said they did nothing wrong.

The nurses cited moral reasons for not taking part in the procedure involving a patient whose water broke prematurely on March 31. The doctor told her she possibly faced a life-threatening infection if her pregnancy wasn’t terminated.

Under federal law, health care workers can opt out of a procedure for moral reasons, except in a life-threatening situation.

The doctor did not feel the patient was in immediate danger. The procedure was performed a few days later.

The hospital will more clearly define its policy on workers’ participation in non-emergency procedures.